Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
The Berryessa Snow Mountain area is the heart of northern California’s wild Inner Coast Range. Once covered by ocean waters, it is a landscape shaped by geologic forces of staggering power overlain with bountiful but fragile biodiversity. Anchored in the north by Snow Mountain's remote forests and in the south by scenic Berryessa Peak, this area stretches through unbroken wildlands and important wildlife corridors, a mosaic of native grasslands, picturesque oak woodlands, rare wetlands, and wild chaparral.
In 2015, President Barack Obama permanently protected 330,780 acres of federal public land in order to preserve its prehistoric and historic legacy and maintain its diverse array of scientific resources, ensuring that the prehistoric, historic, and scientific values remain for the benefit of all Americans. Today, the area is important for ranching and also provides outdoor recreation opportunities, including hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, legal OHV use, and horseback riding to a burgeoning population center.
Download the fact sheet to learn more about Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.
Available now from Backcountry Press:
EXPLORING THE BERRYESSA SNOW MOUNTAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT REGION
This is the go-to book for newcomers to Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and those who have grown up in the Northern Inner Coast Range Mountains!
This introduction to the cultural history, geology, and ecology of the 344,476-acre Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument offers detailed directions and practical information to assist readers with their exploration of this unique landscape. Beautiful illustrations accompany clear and accessible explanations of the area's complex geology - perfect for both geology novices and enthusiasts.
"Every bio-region deserves a book this good, but very few have them. The deep dive across all the relevant disciplines is admirable; together they make a kind of bedrock for a living relationship between active readers and the land we live on. What this book teaches us will help us to pass our home intact on to the generations to come."
-Kim Stanley Robinson, award winning author
President Biden Expands Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument!
- Map of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- Map of Molok Luyuk Expansion Area
- Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Fact Sheet (pdf)
- A Proclamation on Expanding the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, 2024
- Visit the EXPAND BERRYESSA WEBSITE for more information!
- Proclamation of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument by President Obama, 2015
Snow Mountain from Molok Luyuk
Follow the Journey of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument: From Establishment to Expansion
2024
- Map of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument with Molok Luyuk
- Map of Molok Luyuk Expansion Area
- A Proclamation on Expanding the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, 2024
- FACT SHEET: President Biden Expands San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- Coalition PRESS RELEASE: President Biden to Expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- Secretary Haaland Celebrates President Biden’s Expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- Garamendi, Thompson Join President Biden to Announce Expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- Padilla Statement on Expansion of San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monuments
- Thompson, Garamendi Join President Biden to Announce Expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- Senator Bill Dodd Comments on President's Berryessa Snow Mountain Expansion
- CA Senate Joint Resolution Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act, SJR-10
2023
- Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Fact Sheet, April 2023 (prior to the additon of Molok Luyuk) (pdf)
- Local Advocates Thanks Senator Padilla and Representatives Garamendi and Thompson for their Continued Calls on the Biden Administration to Expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, October 11, 2023
- Letter from California delegation to President Biden Reissuing their call for permanent protection for Molok Luyuk, October 11, 2023
- Interior Secretary, BLM Director Visit Proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion
- The National Congress of American Indians Resolution in support of the Expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- Tribal and Community Leaders Applaud U.S. Senate Committee’s Advancement of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act
- Wildflowers, eagles and native history, can this California ridge be protected? - The Guardian, May 1, 2023
- This ridge is considered a California 'jewel'. Here's how tribes are trying to protect it. - The Sacramento Bee, May 1, 2023
2022
THE BERRYESSA SNOW MOUNTAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT EXPANSION ACT, H.R. 6366
In 2022, Senator Alex Padilla, the late Senator Diane Feinstein, and Congressmen John Garamendi and Mike Thompson introduced The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act. They reintroduced the bills in 2024. This legislation would expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument by nearly 4,000 acres to include the Lake County portion of Walker Ridge, known as Molok Luyuk (Condor Ridge), in Patwin. The bill would also ensure that federally recognized tribes can co-manage the land with the federal agencies, rename the Ridge to Molok Luyuk and require a landscape scale management plan.
This ridgeline and the surrounding area has cultural significance to Native Americans, is home to Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, and Tule Elk. The unusual serpentine soil along the ridge provides a home for rare plant species including the adobe lily (Fritillaria pluriflora) and scythleaf onion (Allium falcifolium). The Act will protect these special areas and secure recreation opportunities in the area while boosting local economies and honoring its cultural significance.
- Letter to President Biden from The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation
- The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Calls on President Biden to Protect Molok Luyuk
- Molok Luyuk Coalition Letter to President Biden, October 19, 2022
- Garamendi, Padilla Lead Request that President Biden Expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- California Legislators Ask President Biden to Consider Antiquities Act for Molok Luyuk
- Tribal and Community Leaders Call on President Biden to Expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- Bill to Expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Garners Bipartisan Support in Congress
- Senators Padilla and Feinstein Press Release, July 21, 2022
- Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act, H.R. 6366 / S. 4080 Support Letter
- Senate Hearing on Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act
- Senators Padilla and Feinstein Press Release
- Senators Padilla and Feinstein Introduce Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act, S. 4080
- Tuleyome and Partners' Press Release. S. 4080
- House of Representatives Hearing on Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act
- Dear Colleague Letter from Congressman Garamendi (PDF)
- Section-by-Section summary for the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act (PDF)
- Congressmen Garamendi and Thompson Press Release
- BLM Map of Molok Luyuk Addition
- Representatives Garamendi and Thompson Introduce Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act, H.R. 6366
- Tuleyome and Partners' Press Release H.R. 6366
- Download the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act Thank You and Support Letter to Congressmen Garamendi and Thompson
2019
2017
- Tuleyome founder, Bob Schneider, defends our national monuments on Capitol Public Radio on Insight With Beth Ruyak, Aug 2, 2017
- Berryessa Snow Mountain Designation Support Book (large download, 383 pages), August 2017
- Tuleyome's Response to Trump's Executive Order
- California Legislators Sign a Letter of Support for National Monuments
- Governor Jerry Brown's Letter in Support of National Monuments
- Comments to Secretary Zinke on the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument from Tuleyome
- Conservation Science Partners Report on 22 National Monuments Under Review
- 200+ Comments from the Online Postcards of Support for the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- Support letter by Barrick Gold of North America
2015
Background Information
- Berryessa Snow Mountain, Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion, and Wildlife Connectivity
- One Page Summary of the City of Winters Economic Report on the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- Full Economic Report by the City of Winters
- Earth Magazine article on the geology of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument region by Eldridge and Judith Moores
- Ecology Conservation Biology Climate Change and the Berryessa Snow Mountain region by Chad Roberts
- Scientists Sign-On Letter of Support of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- Susan Harrison's Comments on the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument region provided at the town hall meeting in 2014
- Conservation Planning Background for Berryessa Snow Mountain Region, 2009
PREHISTORY INFORMATION ABOUT THE REGION
Note: The following documents represent the author’s views and are not necessarily indicative of Tuleyome’s judgements about anthropological truth in the Berryessa Snow Mountain region.
MORE INFORMATION ON YOUR NATIONAL MONUMENT
Berryessa Snow Mountain is now a National Monument thanks to your hard work! Find out what is going on within the monument and with the Resource Management Plan.
- US Forest Service Website for the National Monument
- Bureau of Land Management Website for the National Monument